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down their signature, the pile of agreements mounted up in the middle of the table.
    Aaron could mate with Isobel.
    Cade glared at his father.  There was no doubt the son of a bitch had known. This was why Cade had been summoned. His heart sunk as he suddenly realised that, apart from Isobel and her parents, the fourth person sitting at the table that he didn’t recognise had to be one of the Castle women—and judging by her age, Cade guessed it was the mother. He had been set up and he’d walked right into it like a world class fool.
    Two years ago, he had made a pact with his father in order to protect Phoenix. He had agreed that when his older brother, the heir, mated and then produced his first born, he would in turn mate with one of the Castle girls. It would be a legal contract that strengthened the ranks. The Castle family were powerful people, but with the death of Mr Castle, they had fallen on hard times and couldn’t afford their Society fees. They were too valuable to let go, though. They had many contacts that would be useful assets to Trevor and the Society. They just needed a way to stay and that was to have one of the daughters marry someone in a good position—and that someone was Cade.
    He glanced over at Stephen who sat in his chair with a clenched jaw and a murderous look on his face as he stared at Trevor. Cade knew that his friend was well aware of what all this meant. Stephen also knew that Cade was backed in a corner and that there was little he could do to avoid the fate Trevor had decided for him.
    Aaron sat back down with a more than pleased smile upon his face. That was it. The next full moon and pack run, he would officially mate with this woman.
    “With this new development, we have another contract to adhere to it would seem.” Malcolm nodded to Trevor, who then stood to address the congregation.
    “It had been agreed that when my first heir mated, my second would mate with a member of the Castle family,” Trevor proclaimed.
    “That was not the agreement,” Cade cut in. “My brother has to have his first child before that happens.”
    “And how long do you think that is going to take?” Trevor asked, tilting his head and eyebrows rising in question. Cade could hear the underlying smugness in his father’s voice—everyone knew that Aaron would set about trying to acquire an heir as soon as was possible. Turning his attention back to his audience, Trevor addressed them once more. “After the official mating, I propose that Cadence MacDonald is to meet with the three,” he paused and smiled at the widow, “lovely daughters and make his selection.” He stared Cade straight in the eyes now. “We had these made out for you, to help you decide.” He slid some papers across the table—three sheets with details of each of the women on them. Cade took the papers without glancing at them.
    “This is with Ms Castle’s permission, of course.” The woman nodded in consensus, tying a noose around Cade’s neck, so much that he was sure he would suffocate very soon. There was nothing he could say—to argue would be to hand Phoenix over to his father, which would be like signing his death warrant. Cade wasn’t about to do that.
    His mind raced with thoughts and ways of escape. He had to get the three of them, four if he counted the baby, out of there. There was no other way. If they ended up stray, then they would cope ... somehow.
    When the meeting closed and everyone started to mingle, Cade strode over to Stephen and grabbed his arm. He didn’t give him time to speak as he pulled him outside. Stephen went without question.
    “Where is Gemma?” Cade demanded when they were outside of the house and far enough away that no one would hear them.
    “She went to Shelley’s. Said she couldn’t see you tonight.”
    “Is she okay?”
    Stephen shrugged. “Is she going to be okay again?”
    “This is all fucking bullshit. You know that, right?”
    Stephen nodded and then started to walk